Reel for tapes, films and the like



y 1956 J. WIJCHMAN REEL FOR TAPES, FILMS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 9, 1954527 #a l i f 3 INVENTOR 19 JAN WIJCHMAN AGENT United States Patenfo REELFOR TAPES, FILMS AND THE LIKE Jan Wijchman, Eindhoven, Netherlands,assignor to Hartford National Bank and Trust Company, Hartford, Conn.,as trustee Application February 9, 1954, Serial No. 409,184

Claims priority, application Netherlands February 16, 1953 2 Claims.(Cl. 242-40) The invention relates to reels for tapes, films and thelike comprising at least one slit in the core for attaching the tape endby means of a clamping device in the core and a flange which is at leastat one endface of the core secured thereto.

In the usual construction of reels of this kind the slit terminates inthe cylindrical external surface of the core on one side only. In thisconstruction the tape-end required to be secured has to be moved intothe slit between the clamping device in the radial direction of thereel. When a clamping device exerting a continuously active clampingforce is used, securing the tape requires great skill. In addition, thetape must necessarily have sufficient natural rigidity to allow it to bearranged in clamping devices of this kind.

It is also possible to make use of a clamping device the clamping actionof which can be adjusted either by a special action or automatically bythe tension of the tape. This requires a comparatively complicatedconstruction comprising movable parts.

In all these cases 'it takes comparatively much time and r 2,746,692Patented May 22, 1956 very small so that it is reserved for skilledpeople only to attach the tape-end to the reel rapidly.

According to the invention the core may be provided with a flangecomprising spokes at least one of which extends inwards from a flangerim to within a distance of a slit-width from the remainder of theflange, the slit thus produced coinciding with the slit in the core. Inspite of the presence of flanges this construction also allows the tapeto be arranged on the reel in the axial direction in stretchedcondition. It is true that the loose tape-end is required to be movedthrough the flange rims, it can, however, thereupon be pulled outthrough an aperture between two spokes so that as far as space isconcerned there is sufiicient possibility to stretch the tape betweenthe fingers of either hand and to arrange it in this condition in theslit in the axial direction. Obviously trouble to secure the tape-end.This applies more particularly if resilient tapes are required to bewound on the reel.

The object of the invention is to provide a very simple reel which canbe readily operated and allows the tape, even if it is very resilient,to be secured rapidly and in a simple manner, the magnitude of theclamping force of the clamping device being enabled to be chosen quiteirrespective of the natural rigidity of the tapes used.

According to the invention the slit extends from at least one end faceof the axial direction and its section taken on planes at right anglesto the core axis terminates on either side in the cylindrical outersurface of the core, the slit being accessible in at least one of theend faces from the outside of the reel in a manner such that the tape isenabled to be arranged in stretched condition in the slit by means ofsupports in line with the slit on either side.

This allows the tape to be arranged on the reel in the axial directionin stretched condition, for example, between the fingers of either hand.Particularly in the case of resilient tapes the additional advantage isobtained that the tape end can be secured rapidly and easily and thatthe magnitude of the clamping force can be chosen quite irrespective ofthe natural rigidity of the tape. In addition, both in the case of rigidand of resilient tapes a very simple and readily operated reel isobtained in which holding of the tape-end is ensured once the tape endhas been arranged in the clamping device.

Especially in the case of reels comprising flanges at either side thetape can be arranged in a simple manner. This is particularlyadvantageous since in the usual reels of this kind the tape is requiredto be moved in between the flanges at the outer periphery and then to bemoved into the slit between these flanges in the radial direction. Inmany cases the space available between the flanges is in reelscomprising more than one slit and accessible, when mounted, on eitherside it is advantageous to design both flanges in the above-mentionedmanner, in which case several accessible slits may be provided on eitherside of the reel.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the reel consists of twoidentical parts which are symmetrically arranged in the axial direction.Assembly of the reel is effected in that both parts are shifted forrelatively to one another and are pushed into one another in the axialdirection. Each part consists of a flange rim comprising four radialspokes two of which in line with one another are integral with thecentral core part and are provided with rims, the two remaining spokesextending from the flange rim to within the distance of a slit-widthfrom the spokes forming a rigid structure and also being provided withrims, the external boundary of the rims of two spokes in line with oneanother fitting into the internal boundary of the rims of the otherspokes which are in line with one another.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which an embodiment thereof, more particularly a reel for amagnetic record carrier, is given by way of example, and in which Fig. lis an elevation of one of the identical parts from which a reelaccording to the invention can be assembled.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the device shown in Fig. 1 taken along theline II-ll, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of one half of a reel after assembly.

Referring now to the figures, in Figs. 1 and 2 a flange rim comprisingtwo radial spokes 2 is designated 1. The said spokes are in line andintegral with one another. In addition, the flange rim 1 comprises tworadial spokes 3 which extend from the flange rim to Within a distance ofone slit-width from the spokes 2. Thus slits 4 are obtained. The spokes2 comprise rims 5. As will be seen hereinafter the circular boundarythereof forms part of the outer boundary of a core, when the reel isassembled.

At the end faces the spokes 3 terminate in a rim 8 which is arranged atright angles to the spoke surface. The outer boundary 9 of this rim fitsinto the inner boundary 10 of the rim 5 of the other section. Inaddition, the spokes 2 comprise one half 7 of that part of a core whichlies within the slits 4. This core-half 7 is provided with grooves 11and an aperture 12 for securing the reel to a shaft.

Assembly of two parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 results in a complete reelaccording to the invention. Fig. 3 shows half of such a reel theformation of which is most readily conceived with reference to thefigures by folding the two halves of Fig. l situated on either side ofthe line IIIl along this line. In Fig. 3 the rims 8 internally engagethe rims 5. The boundary 6 forms part of the outer boundary of a core13, the central part of which within the slits 4 is formed by two halves7, the remaining part outside of the slits by the rims and 8. Thegrooves 11 form ducts in which a clamping device consisting of a helicalspring 14 flanked on either side by balls 15 can be arranged. Thus, areel is obtained comprising slits 4 which allow a tape end to be held bythe balls. In the core 13 the slit 4 extends axially from the end facesaudits section taken on planes at right angles to the core axisterminates on either side in the cylindrical outer surface, whilst theslit 4 is accessible from the outside of the reel in a manner such thatit allows a tape to be arranged in the axial direction after the tapeend has been pn'iled between the flange rims 1, thereupon pulled outthrough one of the apertures between the spokes 2 and 3 and then is heldstretched between two hands, since the flange slit coincides with thecore slit.

Obviously, as an alternative, the rims 5 can be provided on the spokes 3and the rims 8 on the spokes 2.

What is claimed is:

l. A film reel comprising a central core having at least two axial slitstherein, said reel being constituted by two identical parts arrangedsymmetrically in the axial direction of said reel, each being providedwith our radial spokes, a pair of said radial spokes being in line andintegr'al with said central core and the other pair of radial spokesbeing in line but unattached to said central core whereby a narrow slitis provided between each of said other pair of radial spokes and saidcentral core, said pairs of radial spokes being provided with flangerims whcrehy when one of said two identical parts is rotated relative tothe other part, the outer bounding surface of the flange rims on one ofsaid pairs of radial spokes [its in the inner bounding surface of theflange rims on the other pair of said radial spokes.

2. A film rec] as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least twospaced grooves in said central core and spring-pressed balls in saidgrooves, each being adapted to urge the film into clamping engagementwith one of said flange rims.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,467,607 Bates Apr. 19, 1949 2,640,659 Biko June 2, 1953 2,663,513Hermann Dec. 22, 1953

